On Sunday I finally got down to the Contemporary Museum to see the Dawoud Bey Class Pictures show. I'm a huge advocate of seeing art work in person, so when I heard about these large color portraits I knew I just could not miss them.

The thing is, I didn't find them as striking in the flesh as I expected. Of course the prints were big, glossy, and perfectly exposed, but somehow I just wasn't floored by the impact of seeing them on a wall vs. on my computer screen. However, the time I spent reading the narrative next to each portrait gave me ample time to think about the work and though I haven't had a chance to leaf through the book, I'm suspecting it may actually be the best way to experience these photos. Photography books provide the slow, quiet beauty and intimacy these pictures need. The gallery setting was a little bit too spacious for the images to have their full effect. If you've seen it, I'd love to know your reaction and if you agree with this assessment.

Even though the physical presence of the photos was not as impactful as I would have liked, the series itself is very impressive. For anyone not familiar, I recommend you check it out on Bey's website. These images of teens across the country reveal inner selves that contradict the visual stereotypes we have at first glance. Standing in the middle of the room, I could not have guessed who had a young child, who was brought up by lesbian parents, who wanted to be a writer or who had a parent struggling with addiction.

The accompanying texts written by Bey's subjects crack open the judgments and fears we harbor inside when we see young people on the street. I also remember my own youth, how I judged my peers, and now I wonder about the true stories behind their appearances and actions. Indeed, Bey's Class Pictures portray a population most often viewed as either threatening or insignificant. The scale and beauty of the work, along with the voices so clearly expressed in the texts, celebrates these individuals as the complex young adults they are.

If you're in Baltimore, you only have until February 21 to get to the Contemporary Museum and see these photos. After that, the book is available from the Aperture Foundation.

All images copyright Dawoud Bey via http://www.dawoudbey.net/.